Newsletter

Savannah Music Festival features two of New York's best cabaret singers

Jane Monheit

Not one but two talented ladies will headline the Savannah Music Festival’s cabaret program — Jane Monheit, who’s equally adept in both the jazz and cabaret circuits, and Jennifer Sheehan, whose specialty is the Great American Songbook.

Monheit’s latest album, “The Heart of the Matter,” is scheduled for release April 16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYMDXO-cJoQ

“It’s different from my last one,” she says. “I’ve never done an entire record like this.”

The album includes songs by writers as diverse as The Beatles and Buffy Ste. Marie, but the real surprise is the final track, her rendition of the Sesame Street classic, “Sing,” which she often sings for her young son, Jack.

The album also contains “Night Night Stars,” the first song Monheit has recorded on which she has written both the words and the music. The entire project is uniquely hers.

“It was sort of my gut instinct,” Monheit says. “As an artist, it’s a good way to go. The main inspiration came because I’ve been teaching a lot.”

Sheehan has her own cabaret show, “You Made Me Love You — Celebrating 100 Years of the Great American Songbook,” which she will present in Savannah. It includes Broadway tunes, songs from Hollywood musicals and songs that are considered standards.

While Monheit will perform a few songs from her new album, most of the performance will be from her regular show. “Jazz singing and cabaret singing go hand in hand,” she says. “It’s good singing and good songs.

“I don’t fit any labels clearly,” Monheit says. “It depends on the person listening how it’s interpreted, but it always seems to work out fine.”

Growing up, Monheit always intended to work as a singer.

“People always wonder if I had an epiphany,” she says. “I never doubted for a minute I would make it work.

Monheit says she had “a million influences” in her music. “First and foremost, I think what’s heard in my show are influences of Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, all the great jazz singers and all the great Broadway singers,” she says.

Rick Montalbano is Monheit’s husband and drummer. While their son is very musical, Monheit says it is up to him whether or not he chooses a musical career.

“I encourage always but push never,” she says. “Right now, it’s a little like music is Mommy and Daddy’s job and it keeps us away from him. He’s got perfect timing and is an excellent dancer, but he can do anything he wants in the world.”

As for Monheit, there is something she’d like to bring back into her life. “I’d love to get back into doing theater,” she says. “I haven’t done that since college, and I’d like to do that again at some point.”

In the meantime, life is good. “We’ve been on the road nonstop for 13 to 14 years,” Monheit says. “I love being on the move all the time. I love being in a new place. It’s the best thing ever in the world.”